Just when it seemed robotic machines had reached their peak in terms of customer service, a futuristic scene unfolded with the unveiling of a robotic arm powered by artificial intelligence to pump fuel at an Adnoc station on Reem Island in Abu Dhabi.
Adnoc Distribution showed several innovative and AI-driven types of technology at the petrol station on Wednesday.
The company hopes that such innovation will shape and influence the industry in the years ahead.
The robotic arm uses state-of-the-art computer vision technology and assists in better managing capacity at the petrol station, as well as traffic flow.
However, this does not imply that petrol station attendants will soon be out of work. Instead, the company says the robot will assist in streamlining and organising tasks, enabling them to focus on other responsibilities.
“Adnoc Distribution’s artificial intelligence and digitally enabled innovations deliver seamless customer experiences while supporting and enabling our service station attendants to focus on delivering best-in-class customer service across all other touch points,” Maaz Qureshi, vice president of digital business at Adnoc Distribution told The National.
So, how does the technology work? When a vehicle arrives at the filling station, the driver selects the desired fuel type via a touchscreen interface or the Adnoc Distribution mobile app.
The robotic arm, equipped with a specialised nozzle, then extends towards the vehicle, guided by sensors that help to align the nozzle with the tank opening.
Once correctly positioned, the robotic arm inserts the nozzle and pumps fuel into the vehicle.
Advanced sensors and cameras are used to monitor the process for safety and efficiency, ensuring a smooth operation.
Once completed, the robotic arm retracts the nozzle and then sends a notification to the driver that the refuelling is done.
This innovative system offers speed, convenience and environmental benefits, reducing the risk of spills and eliminating the need for attendants at traditional fuel stations and allowing them to focus on other services.
Click & Collect
In addition to the robotic arm, Adnoc Distribution has also introduced a new retail service called “Click & Collect”.
This service allows customers to buy Oasis convenience store food and beverage products through the mobile app and have their orders delivered to their vehicle upon arrival at selected service stations.
Participating locations in the UAE include the flagship Dubai Sheikh Zayed Road station and Abu Dhabi Corniche Road, with many more to follow shortly.
UAE’s fastest car wash
Adnoc Distribution also unveiled an innovative car wash tunnel capable of servicing 35 to 40 vehicles an hour.
With each wash taking only seven to eight minutes, including drying time, customers will not have to worry about washing their car at the weekend because of traffic.
The news release stated that the tunnel car wash operates sustainably, using 80 per cent recycled water during the process.
The system efficiently moves vehicles through the tunnel using an automatic conveyor belt, and can handle up to four vehicles simultaneously.
The%20specs
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Racecard
2pm Handicap Dh 90,000 1,800m
2.30pm Handicap Dh120,000 1,950m
3pm Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m
3.30pm Jebel Ali Classic Conditions Dh300,000 1,400m
4pm Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
4.30pm Conditions Dh250,000 1,400m
5pm Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m
5.30pm Handicap Dh85,000 1,000m
The National selections:
2pm Arch Gold
2.30pm Conclusion
3pm Al Battar
3.30pm Golden Jaguar
4pm Al Motayar
4.30pm Tapi Sioux
5pm Leadership
5.30pm Dahawi
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile%20
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'Munich: The Edge of War'
Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
In numbers
Number of Chinese tourists coming to UAE in 2017 was... 1.3m
Alibaba’s new ‘Tech Town’ in Dubai is worth... $600m
China’s investment in the MIddle East in 2016 was... $29.5bn
The world’s most valuable start-up in 2018, TikTok, is valued at... $75bn
Boost to the UAE economy of 5G connectivity will be... $269bn
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The%20specs
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The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Real Madrid (2) v Bayern Munich (1)
Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
When: 10.45pm, Tuesday
Watch Live: beIN Sports HD
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
